Beating the Heat

Comfort, Safety, and outstanding energy-efficiency are the focus for UTC Climate, Controls & Security in India.

A world leader in aerospace and buildings systems, United Technologies has created a portfolio of smart and sustainable solutions to meet India´s growing needs. For instance, its group company UTC Climate, Controls & Security (UTC CCS) delivers safety, security and energy-efficient technologies in heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, refrigeration, building controls and automation, fire and security.

Making for India
Carrier installed its first air-conditioner in India in 1936 and in the last few decades has emerged to be the leading player in the Indian HVAC market. Over the years, it has also significantly localised its operations through its manufacturing set up and created a strong portfolio of products made in India. As Arun Bhatia, Managing Director, UTC Climate, Controls & Security (India Region), says, ¨Our investment in terms of generating employment and manufacturing started much before Make in India was born. So Make in India is a logical growth path and not just an option to us.¨ Further, Carrier´s HVAC and Refrigeration factory in Gurgaon manufactures HVAC products for commercial and light commercial applications like ducted split systems, cassettes air-cooled screw and water cooled screw chillers with an AHRI certified test bed, air-handling units besides chest freezers, cold room systems and Food retail display cases. Moreover, through its Intelligent Building Systems (IBS) group, it provides security solutions (Chubb Alba), building management systems (Carrier Race) and remote monitoring services to its customers.

The gain game
In February 2012, UTC CCS acquired Sauter Race Technologies to reinforce its position in the integrated building management systems (IBMS) segment - offering more comprehensive end-to-end building management systems (BMS) including controls, fire and security solutions. The same year, Carrier India and Midea formed a JV to manufacture and distribute residential air-conditioning systems.

The company also formed a global JV with Toshiba back in 1999.

Chiraj Baijal, Director-Sales Commercial Business, UTC Climate, Controls & Security, says, ¨We service and sell Toshiba air-conditioning products everywhere outside Japan. Majorly for India, we source VRF and inverters for light commercial use from Thailand and Japan.¨ In 2015, both companies signed a new JV to localise HVAC operations. Baijal updates, ¨There is a lot of focus on three markets - the US, Europe and India - and we are talking of sales engineering centres for ¨local fit¨ products. This will lead to different options for manufacturing or outsourcing. It´s a significant step-up to grow the business.¨

Managing the building
UTC CCS is now sprucing up its BMS business. ¨BMS becomes integral to running a building efficiently,¨ says Bhatia. ¨We get all the utilities in the building onto a common platform and there is a central command or control centre to monitor functioning.¨ He elaborates, ¨We need to build up capabilities in India. We have Carrier Race and Chubb Alba for Intelligent Building Solutions (IBS); the idea is to provide life-safety, security and BMS in a building.¨ While the entire security system in the Mumbai airport has been done by Chubb, Infosys has implemented the BMS software through which it has hooked up its 70-80 buildings on one platform to monitor performance and ensure energy-efficiency.

Saving energy
Apart from BMS, one of the company´s recent innovations is Advante3c - a specialist team that audits existing buildings and suggest energy-saving interventions. For example, when Medicity Hospital in Gurgaon asked the company for one more chiller, the audit team found it was not required. The result: In one year, the company saved 5 lakh units of power and significant amount of money. ¨The building must be designed considering parameters to conserve energy,¨ says Bhatia, adding that the scenario changes in case of smart cities.

¨Different buildings will perform differently; if there is a common district cooling plant room, things can be regularised better.¨ Other than air-conditioning, controls also play an important role to ensure efficiency.

Products to protect
UTC CCS also offers a variety of products and services to improve building performance. Its TruVision megapixel IP cameras provide reliable video surveillance with integrated motion detection and audio capabilities. From hardwired control panels to high-end life safety and emergency communications platforms, Edwards EST life safety systems protect customers worldwide. Additionally, the company offers a range of fire-safety systems; it has supplied to energy infrastructure projects across India, including the Vindhyachal Super Thermal Power Plant.

The company has also invested significantly towards its R&D as well as engineering efforts in the country. UTC´s engineering centre in Hyderabad develops, localises, and integrates fire and security products, among other cutting-edge technology initiatives. The company has also consistently invested in localising its product that are well-suited for the Indian market and operating conditions. Its recent launches include a localised water-cooled chiller range with larger capacities. On the fire side, the company unveiled the cabinet protection system. And, according to Baijal, a new VRF system from Toshiba called SMMSe was recently launched in India to great response from customers.

Partnering with government
Ten years ago, when the star labelling programme was not made mandatory for India, UTC was among the few companies to pledge to the government that it would partner for the same. Baijal shares, ¨We are partnering for the inverter labelling, VRF standard and chiller standard programmes, and actively involved in the BEE-driven Energy Conservation Building Code.¨ The company is also engaged with the Bureau of Indian Standards and several state governments. Bhatia adds, ¨We are partnering with states to contribute to smart cities by offering city-wise surveillance, fire solutions, IBS and HVAC for buildings.¨

UTC CCS is also significantly active with different government bodies like CII, where Bhatia chairs the Haryana state chapter as well as Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), of which he is the chair for Delhi region. Apart from working closely with organisations like CII and IGBC, UTC CCS also works closely with TERI on a long-term research project centered around energy-efficiency in existing buildings.

Market map
UTC believes in organic growth on the existing business front as well as building a new portfolio. The HVAC vertical, supported by established brands like Carrier and Toshiba is bigger than the newly established IBS. However, Bhatia reveals, ¨We have been growing at double digits in the past two to three years.¨ Crediting this to a successful marketing strategy, he adds, ¨This year is going good in terms of profits across business segments.¨ And, Baijal says, ¨We continue to grow profitably to sustain ourselves. There is a complete value chain of not just selling a product but installing and servicing it as well.¨ And, while UTC CCS continues to invest in people, boasting 1,000 employees across India, the company enjoys a strong network base with over 300 exclusive channel partners. With such a strong foundation to support the future of India, growth is a given!

Landmark projects in India

Over 2000 Internet protocol cameras in Mumbai International Airport and turnkey security solutions for the new Terminal 2.

Security solutions, including CCTV cameras and analytics software, for Power Grid Corporation of India across 24 locations in northern India.

Fire-safety solutions for key power and gas plants across India, including the Vindhyachal Super Thermal Power Plant, operated by NTPC; Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals; and Anpara B Thermal Power Plant, operated by UPSEB.

Commercial refrigeration for HyperCity, a 12,000-sq-ft retail store in Mumbai.

Eight Carrier Evergreen 19XRD centrifugal chillers totalling 20,000 tonne of refrigeration at T3, Delhi Airport, the world´s first and largest terminal building to be rated LEED Gold by the US Green Building Council.

Non-ozone-depleting Evergreen chillers that reduce energy use by up to 40 per cent over industry standards for ITC Royal Gardenia, a LEED Platinum facility.